Bond set for ex-UTEP player arrested in Utah bomb scare

Bond has been set for a former UTEP basketball player who allegedly threatened to blow up an elementary school in Utah, officials said.

Chris Craig, 35, was granted a $25,000 cash-only bond after he was arrested Monday on suspicion of threat of terrorism, interference with an arresting officer, failure to disclose identity, disruption of operation of a school and disorderly conduct, Utah County Sheriff’s Office officials said.

It was unclear whether Craig remained jailed Tuesday morning, and officials have not released that information.

Shortly before the incident, Craig, who played for Miners between 2002 to 2004, sent an email to the El Paso Times and other media threatening to take explosives to Eagle Valley Elementary School. The school is in the town of Eagle Mountain, about 30 miles west of Provo, Utah.

Craig allegedly walked into the school and told staff to evacuate the building. He then called emergency dispatchers at about 2:15 p.m. and claimed he had explosives in the trunk of his car, officials said.

Officials said there were as many as 250 children at the school during the incident.

He surrendered to law enforcement at about 5:15 p.m.

A bomb squad checked Craig’s vehicle and found no explosives.

Officials added that no explosives or weapons were found at the school or at Craig's home in Eagle Mountain. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Craig was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail.

During his basketball career with the Miners, Craig played in the NCAA tournament under coach Billy Gillispie.

After leaving UTEP, Craig began a coaching career that included leading teams in Ireland, Mexico and Switzerland. He then coached at Utah State University Eastern followed, by working as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado.

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Chris Craig is shown during action in the Don Haskins Center.(Photo: El Paso Times file)

Most recently, Craig was the head coach at Midland College in 2011 until 2013.

Craig then began claiming he was an Islamic jihadist and had several run-ins with law enforcement.

Officials said that Craig was "known to have mental-health related issues, but we do not know if he is currently receiving treatment."

According to an 2014 Sports Illustrated article titled "A Coach Unbalanced," Craig struggled with mental illness throughout his basketball career. The article said he has been treated at state mental health hospitals in Colorado and Utah, and his brother said Craig has been diagnosed with schizophrenia.